I sharpened with a belt sander today

G

Greyeagle

Joined
Oct 17, 2005
Messages
101
Well, I have been considering using a 1x30 belt sander or a paper wheel grinder to sharpen knives. I have been free handing knife sharpening since I was a kid and also later in life used a Lansky system. Both work well for me but I am looking for something faster. I have a 1x30 belt sander and only a 220 grit sanding belt so I gave it a shot.
I found an old Chicago Cutlery paring knife in the kitchen and gave it a whirl.
The knife had been thrown around in the drawer and been thru the dishwasher (by my wife not me), it has been rode hard and put up wet.
I ran the knife over the belt until it had all the nicks and dings out of the blade edge and had a convex edge on it. I doused it in water to keep it from over heating. I felt the edge and it didn't seem very sharp to my thumb so I then hit it a few licks on a ceramic rod and stropped it on leather.
So I tried to shave my arm and the hair jumped off with no feel of drag.
Think I will order some belts made for sharpening and a leather belt and see just how good this works, seems very promising to me.

KC
 
I decided to give it a simple test and sliced up an over ripe tomato and it worked like a champ cutting thin slices with out tearing the skin or smashing the tomato. Yeah I know that doesn't sound as exciting as chopping down a pine sapling.
KC
 
I just went from using my KMG 2X72 to an edge pro. Sharp is one thing, but geometrically perfect, mirror polished bevels is another!
 
Congrats, KC!

Thinly slicing a tomato is much more difficult than cutting down a pine tree (which is only hard to in Winter) and so much more enjoyable at lunch.

When are you going to hit the larger kitchen knives with your sander?

If you're looking for a finer belt for your 1"x30" sander and don't want to go too crazy, but still want a crazy-sharp edge (which would make you a rarity as most of us enjoy going too far....), order a 600 grit silicon carbide belt from a&h abrasives. Cuts fast and leaves an impressive edge.
 
another little trick before your belts arrive.. Turn one of the belts you now have insideout and use the back side to polish with your sander. Yeah I know it sounds a little wierd but it really works very good. Pluss it gives you something to do with all the used up belts.
 
Congrats, Greyeagle! You've taken the final step to knife sharpening heaven!

Once you get all the belts you need, including some really fine ones, and a leather belt or two (okay, I have three, with three different compounds on them!), you'll be delighted with the great, polished convexed edges you can get! Since you've been hand sharpening for a long time, you'll have no problems - you already know all about angles and grits!

Plus, you can now sharpen axes, machetes, and lawn mower blades (not to mention swords and car bumpers) as easily as knives! :D:thumbup:
 
Well I took and tried another kitchen knife an 8 1/2 inch slicer. I took it to convex then hit it with a ceramic stick and stropped it, it is now shaving sharp also albeit this knife was in good shape to begin with. Thanks for the links and hints. I am going to order some of those belts better suited for knife sharpening, I can tell I need a belt with more weight or backing so it won't be quite so slack. I turned the sander( a delta) on its back side with the top facing me, between the vacuum hook up and the tensioner it sits perfect that way. I feel like I can see what I am doing better like that.
KC
 
As with any other machine, try to envision ways it can kill you and avoid them. A belt travelling down is much safer than one travelling towards you. If anything catches a blade, you'd rather have it at your feet than in your chest, even if having the belt horizontal is easier....just playing devil's advocate here. I envisioned you sitting in front of that grinder, eyes at belt level, edge forward with belt travelling towards you and it scared the crap out of me!
 
The belt is traveling away from me when I lay it down on its side. I made sure before I tried that. I just do it so I can see what I am doing a little better.
KC
 
i'm curious if there is a class for this, i would never be interested in creating knives but i would love to be able to sharpen my own knives. especially the kitchen knives, my wife dosent understand why i ask her not to use the knives on her decorative glass cutting table:(
 
Jerry Hossom has taught some classes on sharpening with a sander and has links on how to do it at his forum at knifeforums.
 
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